Air boat for ships, barges and other sea-going vessels



R. D. SMITH 3,122,119

AIR BOAT FOR SHIPS, BARGES AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSELS Feb. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1963 INVENTOR. 12055.??? p S/WYYAZ' I R. D. SMITH 3,122,119

AIR BOAT FOR SHIPS, BARGES AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSELS Feb. 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1963 1 I I I .lfilll'l'llli'lllfllll II!!! falfillfllllllllllh 4471 INVENTOR. F035??? 13, SMJTH R. D. SMITH Feb. 25, 1964 AIR BOAT FOR SHIPS, BARGES AND OTHER SEA-GOING VESSELS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1963 IN V EN TOR. P035 51 D. SMITH United States Patent Ofiflce 3,122,119 Patented Feb. 25, 1964 3,122,119 Am soar non snn s, nARe-as AND o'rrma seaorse vnssars This invention relates generally to ship safety appara tus. More specifically it relates to emergency floatation equipment for vessels, as is described in my previously filed patent applications, Serial Numbers 231,140, 237,590, and 253,840 of which the present application is a continuation in structural improvement.

One object of the present invention is to provide a seagoing vessel having built-in means for placement of floatation devices on the outer side of the hull, such devices originating on one longitudinal side of the hull and in operative position extending under the keel to the opposite longitudinal side of the hull. In the above cited patent applications a plurality of floatation devices termed air blankets were presented which extended in operative position from the gunwale of each longitudinal side down to the keel where they terminated. Such construction was more vulnerable for disability of military or other vessels in case of enemy attack in time of war because the vessel could not be made to remain on an even keel in case some of the air blanket structure on one side become damaged and accordingly inoperative. Thus the first object of the present invention is to provide the above stated floatation means which extend from one gunwale, under the keel to the gunwale on the opposite side.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sea-going vessel wherein each adjacent floatation device originates on an opposite longitudinal side of the vessel, thereby making better distribution of the operating equipment of such floatation devices and minimizing the destruction thereof should the vessel sustain damage at any particular point.

Still another object is to provide floatation devices herein termed air boats which are movable along a supporting chain, wherein there is an improved locking means so that the air boat will automatically lock with the chain in its descent toward the keel and remain locked in its ascent on the opposite side of the hull.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of mechanisms to operate doors to compartments wherein the above described chains are retained when in an inoperative position, each mechanism a minimum number of doors, thus permitting operation of a maximum number of doors in case there is damage sustained at any particular point on the hull.

A still further object is to provide an aux liary air lanket under each deck within the hull, which is expandable laterally in accordion manner to form a layer of air in case water tends to flood the interior of the hull.

Other objects are to provide floatation devices which may be readily incorporated into old or new hulls, which are rugged in construction, easy to operate and eflicient in use.

These and other objects will become readily apparent upon a study of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top perspective view in cross section of a ship incorporating the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view partly in cross section of one of the air boats.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the lock means between the air boat and chain shown separated.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section through 55 of FIG- URE 4 showing a step in the locking process.

FIGURE 6 is a cross section similar to 5-5 of FIG- URE 4 wherein the device is inverted, and lock means are secure.

FIGURE 7 is a diagram of a side view of a ship showing a plurality of door operating mechanisms and doors, and

FIGURE 8 is a perspective cross sectional view of a hull showing the auxiliary interior air blankets in operative and inoperative positions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the numeral 10 represents a ship incorporating the present invention wherein there is a flotation device 11. The ship includes a hull 11 having opposite port and starboard sides 12 and 13, keel 14, and decks 15. Within the hull there are a plurality of compartments 16 housing endless chains 17 mounted on gears 18. A door 19 flush with the outer side of the hull closes the compartment, the doors being movable between an open and closed position by means of communicating horizontal chains 20 wound on a winch 21 powered by a motor 22. Massive springs 23 are provided to return the doors or a similar winch and motor construction (not shown) may be used. Each of the doors 19 extend from the gunwale 24 or 25 to the keel. Grooves 26 are provided in the keel for the endless chains to pass therethrough from starboard to port sides of the hull. Hook elements 27 are intermittently provided on the chain 17 as shown in FIGURE 4.

A plurality of air boat 28 comprised of foldable, inflatable, ir tight material are retained in an inoperative position within housings 29 along the edges of the gunwales. Each air boat as shown in FIGURE 3 comprises several outer panels 30 and internal partitions 31 which enclose compartments 32 connected by one way halves 33 in the partitions. An air compressor 34 powered by engine 25 is connected by hose as to one end of the air' boat. A series of hook elements 37 on one side of the air boat are provided for engagement with hook elements 27. Hook element 27 has a prong 38 which extends into opening 39 of hook element 37, and a latch 49 pivoted at one end on a pin 41 is forced by a coil or flat leaf spring 42 to normally extend outward from the prong.

Under each deck there are a series of parallel guide rails 43 spaced apart from the deck and in this space an auxiliary air blanket 44 is retained in folded inoperative position adjacent each hull side. An air inlet pipe 45 having hand operated valves :6 at each deck serves to deliver air from compressors 34 to the air blankets.

In operative use, when an emergency arises to provide flotation to a vessel that is shipping water and is in danger of sinking, a motor 47 is turned on to activate chain 17. The hook elements 27 of the chain engage hook elements 37 of the air boat causing the air boat to be paid out of the housing 29 and pulled downward under the keel and then upwardly on the opposite side of the hull. The latch 40 will prevent disengagement of the air boat and chain during the descent or ascent around the hull. After the air boat is in the position indicated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 1, the motor is turned ofl and the compressor motor is turned on causing air to be pumped into the air boat, the air passing through the one way valves into all compartments, thus inflating the air boat. It is to be noted that the air boat flts over the keel and is here relatively narrow thus distributing the flo tation force equally on each side of the hull. A master switch can turn on all motors 47 at once if preferred, or each can be turned on individually.

Should the vessel be shipping water through a hole torn in the hull, the auxiliary air blankets can also be inflated by the same air compressor and selectively turning on valves 46. Thus the air blankets can be inflated 3 to extend from stem to stern and port to starboard as shown in FIGURE 8.

It is to be noted that in inflated position the air boat assumes a U-shaped configuration as shown in FIGURE 3. It can be in ten foot widths preferably and supported on three adjacent chains of which can erate the air boat if the other chains are damaged.

Thus there has been shown a ship flotation device wherein air boats are drawn fully around the underside of a hull from one gunwale to the opposite gunwale.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claim.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a vessel the combination of a hull and a flotation device, said flotation device comprising an air boat and means for drawing said air boat in a transverse direction under said hull,- said air boat thus extending from one side of said hull, under said hull and to the opposite side thereof, said hull including opposite port and star board sides, said sides having a gunwale at the upper edges thereof, said hull including a keel, said air boat extending in operative position from the port gunwale, along the outer port side of said hull, under said keel,

including hook elements, and said air boat having corresponding hook elements, said air boat hook elements each including an opening therethrough and said chain hook elements each including a prong for engagement in said opening, said prong having a spring loaded latch to prevent disengagement of said hook elements after engagement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,337 Brooksbank June 12, 1900 972,180 Fugazzi Oct. 11, 1910 1,170,420 Crowley Feb. 1, 1916 1,283,345 Sova Oct. 29, 1918 2,979,013 Whittall Apr. 11, 1961 

